Local and State Headlines for Friday, February 1st, 2019

Mission Health Sale Effective Today

(Asheville, NC) -- Mission Health's sale to a for-profit group out of Tennessee is reportedly official. HCA's purchase of Mission Health has been scheduled to close today. North Carolina's Attorney General said in January that he had no objections to any of the specifics in the deal. Mission Health operated six hospitals in Western North Carolina.

New Board Of Elections Appointed

(Raleigh, NC) -- A new state Board of Elections is now in place. Governor Roy Cooper appointed the board yesterday. The new chairman, Bob Cordle, says they will most likely decide on the certification of the ninth district congressional elections this month. There's no specific date yet for a February hearing. The certified results into the North Carolina race have been up in the air since a ballot fraud investigation began.

Four Die From Flu Last Week

(Raleigh, NC) -- The number of flu-related deaths in North Carolina is rising. The Division of Public Health says four people died last week, which brings the season total to 29. The number remains well below this time last year, when 130 deaths had been reported in the state. Health officials are still urging people to get a flu vaccine.

Parking Fines Go Up In Asheville

(Asheville, NC) -- Parking fines are going up in downtown Asheville. Fines for exceeding the time limit or not paying for your space are doubling from ten to 20-dollars. WLOS-TV says that the previous ticket price of ten-dollars was cheaper than paying to park in an Asheville garage. The price increase takes effect today.

Deadly Fire Still Investigated

(Asheville, NC) -- The Asheville Fire Department is still investigating a deadly fire from last weekend. The woman who died in the apartment blaze on Pritchard Road has been identified as 57-year-old Laura Jean Trawick. Another person is reportedly still being treated for burn injuries. The cause hasn't been identified.

Kesha Coming To ASU

(Boone, NC) -- Pop star Kesha will soon hit the stage in Boone. She is scheduled to perform at Appalachian State University's Convocation Center on March 29th. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday. Kesha has had two albums hit number one on the Billboard 200 charts.

Reward Increases For East Charlotte Murder

(Charlotte, NC) -- The reward for information in an east Charlotte murder is up to 15-thousand-dollars. The owner of Fixer Electronic Repair on North Sharon Amity Road was shot to death during an alleged robbery more than two weeks ago. Investigators said the suspect wore a hoodie with the word Love on both sleeves. The FBI and Crimestoppers have joined together to offer the reward.

New Board Of Elections Appointed

(Raleigh, NC) -- A new state Board of Elections could soon make a decision in the ninth district congressional race. Governor Roy Cooper appointed members to the board yesterday. New chairman Bob Cordle says they will most likely decide whether to certify the ninth district congressional election this month. There's no specific date yet for a February hearing. The certified results into the North Carolina race have been up in the air since a ballot fraud investigation began.

Clerks Accused Of Selling Alcohol To Minor Before Deadly Crash

(Burke County, NC) -- Two Burke County store clerks are being accused of selling alcohol to a teenager who died in a crash on January 24th. An East Burke High School senior smashed his car into a telephone pole in Hildebrand. The investigation led police to the Run-In convenience store on South Center Street, where the two clerks were allegedly shown on video providing the alcohol. They were arrested yesterday.

Man Shot Near UNCC Center City Campus

(Charlotte, NC) -- The CMPD is investigating an alleged drive-by shooting outside the UNC-Charlotte Center City campus. The victim told police that he was shot while walking with a friend on North 9th Street at Brevard around 9:30 Thursday morning. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition. Investigators were looking through surveillance footage from the area, but haven't made any arrests.

Armed Robbery At Charlotte Chinese Restaurant

(Charlotte, NC) -- Investigators say a Chinese restaurant was robbed at gunpoint last night in west Charlotte. There were a handful of customers still inside Wok Bo on Little Rock Road when three suspects entered the restaurant. The business and one of the customers were robbed. The suspects are on the run.

NBA All-Star Game Coming Up

(Charlotte, NC) -- The biggest sporting event in Charlotte history is almost here. The eyes of the basketball world will be on the Queen City when the NBA All-Star Weekend takes place February 15th through 17th at the Spectrum Center. Around 150-thousand visitors are expected for the weekend. The CMPD has planned a heavy police presence for the event.

Deputies Find A Missing Cary Man Dead In His Wrecked Truck

(Wake Co., NC) -- Deputies in Wake County are identifying a man who died after being found in a wooded ravine in Raleigh. Twenty-nine-year-old Lamar Griffin of Cary was found unconscious Wednesday night near Crabtree Quarry on Duraleigh Road. He was going fishing with a friend when he had difficulty breathing and a friend went back for help. Griffin's death is under investigation and an autopsy is scheduled to determine how he died.

Flu Cases Are Rising In North Carolina

(Wake Co., NC) -- North Carolina health officials are warning that the flu season is ramping up. Last week, four people in North Carolina died from the flu. This brings the flu death toll this flu season to 29, however at this point last year, there were 130 deaths. Wake County health officials say there were more than 400 emergency room visits last week alone for flu like symptoms. Health officials say it's not too late to get the flu shot.

Raleigh Police Investigate Reports That A Work Release Inmate Raped Someone

(Raleigh, NC) -- A North Carolina inmate is being investigated for a rape at the Burger King he was granted work release for. Raleigh police are looking into allegations that an inmate violated a woman in a bathroom at the Burger King on New Bern Avenue. He's one of nearly 12-hundred inmates participating in the work release program. No charges have been filed yet.

Mysterious Booms Are Heard In Parts Of Wake And Franklin Counties

(Wake Co., NC) -- Folks in a neighborhood along the Wake and Franklin County lines are trying to figure out what's causing mysterious booms. People in the Barham Crossing neighborhood say they heard strange loud noises lately which rattled their homes. Neighbors say the booms were so loud that windows were rattled. Some speculate it could be military exercises, meteors or even UFOs. Deputies in Wake County have gotten more than half a dozen calls about this in the past few days. No explanation for the booms has been offered yet.

Deputies: Apex Man Who Caused A Deadly Crash Has A History Of Road Rage

(Cary, NC) -- An Apex man accused of causing a fatal crash in Cary may be a bit of a hot head. Deputies in Wake County say 24-year-old Timothy Cox caused a crash about two weeks ago on U.S. One that killed Scott Durso. Deputies who searched Cox's computers say they found public posts on social media that show he had a history of erratic driving with no regard for the lives of others on the road. A search warrant shows that Cox will likely be charged in Durso's death.

The Family Of A Missing Lumberton Woman Begs For Help

(Lumberton, NC) -- A Lumberton woman is missing and her family is asking for help. Twenty-year-old Hannah Hayes was last seen leaving for Wilmington on a job hunt about a week ago. Her family last heard from her on Sunday when she called them crying and asking for help. Anyone with information on Hannah Hayes is asked to call police.

Deadline Is Today For HBCU To Stay Open

(Greensboro, NC) -- It's a big day for a historical women's college in Greensboro. Bennett College will close its doors if it does not raise enough money to keep its accreditation. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' Commission on Colleges voted in December to remove the college's membership due to financial instability. As of last night, the school had raised about three-quarters of the five-million dollars it needed to stay open. The deadline is today.

Person Found Dead Of Possible Weather-Related Causes

(Sophia, NC) -- A person who was found dead in Randolph County possibly died of weather-related causes, according to sheriff's officials. The victim was found dead yesterday morning outside of a camper in Sophia. Sheriff's officials say temperatures in the area were in the teens earlier that morning. The victim has not been identified. An investigation is underway.

Greensboro Rolls Out New All-Electric Buses

(Greensboro, NC) -- The City of Greensboro is rolling out all-electric buses. Yesterday marked the first day in state history that a municipality had all-electric buses in operation. City transit officials say the buses can fill up at solar-powered charging stations in just eight minutes. Right now, there are two battery-powered buses on the road, but the city hopes to introduce another eight by the end of the month.

Pre-K Student In Mount Gilead Brought Gun To School

(Undated) -- An investigation is underway after a pre-k student brought a gun to school in Mount Gilead. Montgomery County schools officials say the gun was found in a student's bag at Mount Gilead Elementary. It was turned over to police. They say the child's parent will be charged for not securing the weapon.

Randolph Co. Teen Accused Of Threatening Someone On Bus

(Randolph Co., NC) -- A Randolph County teenager is accused of threatening someone on a school bus with a knife. It happened Tuesday afternoon on a bus carrying Southwest Randolph High students. Sheriff's officials say 18-year-old Bryan Addison threatened to hurt another student if they told anyone he had a knife. He was arrested and charged with possession of a weapon on school grounds and communicating threats.


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